Chrysanthemum plant named Orange Davis

ABSTRACT

A Chrysanthemum plant named Orange Davis particularly characterized by its flat capitulum form; daisy capitulum type; orange-bronze ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum of 64 to 70 mm when fully opened, when grown as a pinched spray pot mum; photoperiodic flowering response to short days of 55 to 60 days; plant height, with 15 to 16 long days after sticking unrooted cuttings, and with 2 applications of 2500 ppm B-9 SP, ranges from 20 to 25 cm when grown as a pinched pot mum with 4 cuttings in a 15 cm pot; branching pattern is spreading, each plant having 4 to 6 laterals after pinch; and recommended as a spray pot mum.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum, botanically known as Dendranhema grandiflora, andreferred to by the cultivar name Orange Davis.

Orange Davis, identified as 4176 (84-382D03), is a product of a mutationinduction program. Orange Davis was discovered and selected by CornelisP. VandenBerg on Jun. 1, 1990 in a controlled environment in Salinas,Calif. in comparative flower trials of selections of radiation sportsoriginating from irradiation of the cultivar identified as Davis,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,325 and described as a spray pot mumhaving a flat capitulum form; daisy capitulum type; red purple rayfloret color; diameter across face of capitulum of 64 to 70 mm whenfully opened; flowering response period of 51 to 63 days after start ofshort days; plant height of 18 to 28 cm with 2 to 3 applications of 2500ppm B-9 SP when grown as a pinched pot mum in a 15 cm pot; and aspreading and prolific branching pattern, with 4 to 6 laterals afterpinch.

One selection in these comparative flower trials was identified by thecode number 4088, which was selected in October 1989 as one floweringplant within a flowering block established as rooted cuttings from stockplants of Davis which had been exposed as unrooted cuttings to an X-raysource of 1750 rads in Fort Myers, Fla., on Apr. 13, 1989. Repeatedflowerings of code 4088 showed a mixture of plants with different rayfloret color. One plant with an orange-bronze ray floret color wasselected on Jun. 1, 1990 and given the code number 4176 (84-382D03), andsubsequently the culivar name Orange Davis.

The irradiation program resulting in code 4088 and ultimately in OrangeDavis had as its primary objective the expansion of color ranges of theparent cultivar Davis. The irradiation program comprised irradiatingcuttings of the parent cultivar at irradiation levels of 1500, 1750 and2000 rads. A total of 1466 cuttings harvested from a total of 225irradiated plants were planted on Jul. 31, Jul. 24 and Jul. 10, 1989. Ofthese, 27 initial selections were made, which selections were thenrevegetated and reflowered. Four consecutive flowerings resulted indiscarding 21 of the original 27 selections on Jul. 9, 1990. Threeselections were retained and three selections were reselected aspossible introductions. Reselections were made because of the fact thatthe flowering plants consisted of more than one color, as described for4088. Of these 6 selections, 4 will be commercially introduced as OrangeDavis, Coral Davis, Light Davis and Regal Davis, the last three of whichare disclosed in pending plant patent applications of applicant.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Orange Davis was accomplishedwhen vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection inDecember 1989 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif., bytechnicians working under the supervision of Cornelis P. VandenBerg.Orange Davis was reselected from the original selection on Jun. 1, 1990.The first act of asexual reproduction of the reselection wasaccomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from this reselectionin August 1990 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. bytechnicians working under the supervision of the inventor.

Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of successiveplantings has shown that the unique combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for Orange Davis are firmly fixed and are retainedthrough successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Orange Davis has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Salinas, Calif. under greenhouse conditions which approximatethose generally used in commercial greenhouse practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Orange Davis, which, in combination,distinguish this Chrysanthemum as a new and distitnct cultivar:

1. Flat capitulum form.

2. Daisy capitulum type.

3. Orane-bronze ray floret color.

4. Diameter across face of capitulum of 64 to 70 mm when fully opened,when grown as a pinched spray pot mum.

5. Phooperiodic flowering response to short days of 55 to 60 days.

6. Plant height, with 15 to 16 long days after sticking unrootedcuttings, and with 2 applications of 2500 ppm B-9 SP, ranges from 20 to25 cm when grown as a pinched pot mum with 4 cuttings in a 15 cm pot.

7. Branching pattern is spreading, each plant having 4 to 6 lateralsafter pinch.

8. Recommended as a spray pot mum.

The accompanying color photographic drawing is a top perspective view ofpotted plants of Orange Davis, with 4 cuttings in a 15 cm pot, with thecolors being as nearly true as possible with illustrations of this type.

Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar incomparison to Orange Davis is the parent cultivar Davis. Most traits ofOrange Davis are similar to those of Davis, except for the ray floretcolor. Davis has a red-purple ray floret color, while Orange Davis hasan orange-bronze ray floret color. In addition, flowering response timeto short days of Orange Davis has been observed to be two to four daysflower than Davis in several flowering trials. When comparing thedescription of Orange Davis with Davis, it is evident that Davis has awider range of flowering response and plant height than Orange Davis.The reason for this is that the description of Davis is based onevaluation over a 2 year time period, while the description of OrangeDavis is based on 4 flowerings in a 3 month period.

In the following description color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Color Chart. The actual color of Orange Davis isnot represented in The RHS Colour Chart, and the values given are thosebelieved closest to the actual color of Orange Davis. The color valueswere determined on plant material grown as a pinched spray pot mum inSalinas, Calif. on Apr. 1, 1991.

Classification:

Botanical.--Dendranthema grandiflora cv Orange Davis.

Commercial.--Flat daisy spray pot mum.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Daisy.

Diameter across face.--64 to 70 mm when fully opened.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of threemeters).--Orange-bronze.

Color (upper surface).--34B, tinged with 178C to 179A.

Color (under surface).--168B to 168C.

Shape.--Straight, oblong, slightly ribbed.

C. Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--9A.

Color (immature).--144B.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present on disc florets only; no pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present on both ray and disc florets.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--20 to 25 cm when grown as a pinched pot mum with 15 to 16 longdays prior to start of short days, with 2 applications of 2500 ppm B-9SP.

Branching pattern.--Spreading and prolific, with 4 to 6 laterals afterpinch.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--147A.

Color (under surface).--147B.

Shape.--Deeply lobed and serrated.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named Orange Davis,as described and illustrated.